what are th main knocks on Ruger P89 pistols?

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because I can't find any. I can see how people with smaller hands wouldn't like the mag release. I can see how people feel the gun is heavy (that's bad, why?). other than that, I really can't see any knock on these guns. especially considering the price. I've put about 300-400 rounds through my friends P89 now with maybe 1 or 2 malfunctions, which I'm okay with over that range span. I don;'t have a ton of confidence in ANY autoloading pistol, so this kind of reliability is good enough for me. It will also pretty much any ammo run through it.


Why do these guns have a bad name? They're badmouthed a lot. Yes, a lot of people like me see what great guns they are, but they do have a stigma. I am getting a Glock next, but I intend to pick up a Ruger p89 and a Ruger 45 soon enough.
 
Weight is just an issue for CCW--otherwise no big deal.

A P89 still weighs less than a 5'' all steel 1911 that everyone seems to gush about.

Nothing wrong with the Ruger pistols and you could do a lot worse.
 
I have always found them to be not just big.. but bulky more than anything. And there isn't really anything that draws me to them. Sometimes I'll find a gun that has lots that I like about it may have one trade-off for the things I like. But just never found that with the Ruger semi-autos... they just seem to be all trade-offs without the reward. I'm sure they are fine pistols but there is just so many other guns out there, for me, that bring more to the table for near the same price. I'd rather buy a used Sig or Glock than a new ruger semi. But that is just a preference thing. Some guys love them.
 
i wanted to love the P90, but it felt like a cross between a brick and a 2X4 in my hand. i held out hope for the P97, which felt much better, but the trigger left a lot to be desired.

all the smaller calibre Rugers (9mm and .40) just seem too bulky for what they offered. i understand that there is a certain "pickup truck" style to their design, fit and ruggedness, but it just didn't appeal to me.

i have a cousin who has a 9mm Ruger (i don't know the model number) who loves it for the price and the fact that it will stand up to abuse (he got it for his deep sea fishing boat)

i have found Ruger (i have shot several) to be functional and reliable, but not conducive to high speed accurate shooting
 
there a little bulky but a great shooters ,i sold mine only to buy a p95 cost about the same
never had any issues.
 
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Not really anything to knock on it except it is a working man's pistol...if I find one for $200 or less I will buy it for a truck gun/around the house gun. Right now I am comfortable using a CZ 82 for that purpose.

~Norinco
 
The Ruger P series of pistols is a bit big and bulky, and there are some issues with first shot trigger pull on the DA/SA models. The magazine release is not perfect either.

OTOH, it is built like a tank and will probably outlast all of us here.
 
My P89 is big, ugly, and clunky looking. I've had it for over 12 years, and fired several thousand rounds thru it. It has never failed to chamber, fire, extract or eject once. I've never had to replace any parts. It is probably one of the most reliable handguns I own.
 
My 1st gun was a p89 with hogue wrap around grips. Was a great gun, but just to bulky for carry.
 
They are a good gun and will work fine. They are also a little heaver that other 9mms. The one I had shot every thing that I feed it (even some reloads that I did not think any 9 would run). If you want a good serviceable gun at a good price this is it. I kept Glocks, not because they work better but because they are lighter.
 
They're built like bricks and they run like raped apes. Trigger is kinda "meh". But nothing at all "wrong" at all with them. I had a P90 for several years, never a bit of trouble. Traded it off on something else.

I just find them sorta bland, I guess.
 
My P-series Ruger is a P-944. It has one ammunition related failure out of somewhere between 2500 & 3000 rounds. I would trust my life to it. In all honesty. I am a little more accurate with my XD-40 but I believe that has more to do with me than the accuracy of the gun.
I wanted to add that if you want to research the Ruger P-series pistols there is a lot of information at rugerforum.com
 
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Big, heavy, ugly, but good. I just realized that makes it sound kind of like a Hi-Point. Just kidding.
 
To me, the P89 is one of the best quality guns out there. I have shot one regularly, and owned a P90 (the .45 ACP model) once upon a time. They are heavy, no doubt. But that heavy, bulky nature makes them very tough, and capable of handling very high pressure loads (knew one guy who went OVER the specs on reloading for 9mm, and his took it just fine, though I think that's stupid to do). They also will last about as long as any of your European built high quality guns built for militaries. But, they tend to cost $100 less (or even less than that, in fact often less than that), than your comparable Eurogun.

The weight and bulk is the cost you pay for that.

I like 'em alot. In fact, Ruger is my second favorite handgun brand behind Glock.
 
Knocks?

...not from me...I've had KP97DAO, three KP97DC, two KP90dc, two KP90, and one KP95DC...carry the KP90DC every day IWB on my belly...comfy and easily concealed...KP89DC is next on my list(may be a bit smaller)they ain't pretty, but they'll dance all night and never let you down...you won't find a more reliable 9mm...though LOTS are prettier...
 
They are sexy beasts compared to a Hi Point plus they carry twice the rounds. Built Ruger tough. If I was looking for a cheap do all piece one of the P's would be on my list.
 
this thread pretty much solves it. Should be made a sticky to link to any Tactikewl guys telling me the Ruger's a POS.


I'll admit the first shot on the DA/Sa isn't my favorite, but I would gladly sacrifice a rough trigger pull for the kind of durability and reliability the Ruger offers.
 
Two words: Chunky and Clunky.

The trigger on the Ruger autos can be greatly enhanced simply by swapping out the hammer spring for a lighter one.

I have no weight or reliability issues with any of my Ruger autos.
 
I don't care for them due to weight, ergonomics, trigger and point of aim. The ones that I've shot in the past all had to have the front sight buried to hit at 15 yards, and none felt great in my hand.

There is nothing wrong with them at all... I think that one just comes down to personal preference. One of the posters earlier in the thread said if he found one for $200 he'd take it... I'd be on that myself. Just not willing to pay for a new one when I can get something I like a lot more for an extra bill or two. If I found a used one for a screaming deal I would buy it.
 
The thing is P-95's can be found NIB for right around 300 dollars. cheaper used. That is a pretty good value for what you get.
 
Lots of people keep mentioning the terms "bulky" and "chunky"....

Just how thick are they?

Anyone have the dimensions of their pistol?
 
I would add my voice to what seems to be a chorus; the gun in question is like almost all Ruger products- utilitarian. They are heavier than many guns of similar format and caliber, they aren't what many would call a thing of beauty as far as design lines, (no one is going to mistake this gun for a High Power) not highly polished,blued, etc. They don't have a highly refined trigger out of the box. They are however, again typical of Ruger, built to last through many, many firings, and if all else fails, would make a good club...
 
They are what they are - a workhorse of a gun. They are Clydesdales, not Thoroughbreds. They are not the type of gun you wear to BBQs; they are the type of gun you actually USE, and don't care so much if they get scratched. I love my P89. I had a P90 as well, but traded it for a 1911. Love the 1911, but I wish now that I had also kept the P90.
 
Lots of people keep mentioning the terms "bulky" and "chunky"....

Just how thick are they?
Click to expand...

I owned a P89, and the grip circumference is rather large. Worse, it seems to get thicker near the top. I didn't like the way it felt in the hand.

Great gun though. Accurate, easy to clean/strip, and the price was right.
 
I like my P95DC because of the way the safety is set up. I really like the fact that there is a manual safety in conjunction with the decocker. It is the only one I know of like that. Makes it perfect for under the front seat of the car. And at $325, I'm not real worried about it being lost, stolen or beaten up. It's plenty accurate, eats anything and will leave a helluva a mark on someone if I run out of bullets!!
 
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